Nick laid on the couch in the living room of his house, staring at the ceiling. Tears ran down his cheeks as he thought of what had happened.  His fiancee left town while he was waiting for her to show up at his birthday party. He didn’t know why she left him. Her best friend, Hayley, who is Howie’s wife, didn’t know where she went and was worried about her. He got up and went out back and sat on his deck in a lounge chair and stared at the ocean. He heard the front door open and close and heard voices.

        “Nicky,” Hayley said as she and Howie came out with Brian and Leighanne behind them.

        “Hi,” Nick said.

        “We have a private investigator looking for Briz,” Hayley said.

        “Why did she leave me, why would she do this, I loved her so much, she was everything to me and she left me, I didn’t do anything wrong, all I did was love her,” Nick said as fresh tears fell down his cheeks. Leighanne and Hayley sat down and hugged him. Brian and Howie looked at each other. They knew Nick would never be the same. They were leaving in the morning to go on tour.

        “Nick, if you want to, you can hang on my bus with me and Leighanne,” Brian said.

        “Thanks, I’ll be fine on my bus,” Nick said.

        “Are you sure?” Leighanne asked.

        “I’ll be okay, I have to be,” Nick said. Leighanne kissed his cheek and Hayley kissed his forehead.

        “If you need anything, just call us, okay,” Leighanne said. Nick nodded.

        “Thanks, sis and sis,” Nick said. They hugged him and they left. Nick locked up the house and went up to his room and took a shower and went to bed. The next morning, he got his bags and went to meet the buses. He got on his bus and put his bags down. Billy got on.

        “Hey boss,” Billy said.

        “Hey Billy,” Nick said.

        “You doing okay?” Billy asked.

        “Yeah, I have to,” Nick said. Billy sat down. The buses headed out on the road.

Two months went by. Nick was getting more depressed each day that passed. The guys were worried about him. He never would hang out. He would do sound checks and then hide out in his dressing room. He would do the show and then shower and go back to the bus or hotel suite. He hardly ate and they noticed a change in his weight.  The guys and girls gathered in Kevin’s room.

        “Guys, I’m worried about Nick, he is getting worse each day, he insists he’s fine but we can tell he isn’t, he’s losing weight and he looks pale, we have to step up our efforts and find Brizee and bring her back to him before he gets worse,” Brian said.

        “Let’s go talk to him,” Kevin said.

        “Kev, it won’t be a good idea to gang up on him,” Hayley said.

        “We have to do something, he’s our little bro,” Kevin said. He got up and went out the door. He knocked on Nick’s door. He didn’t answer. He looked at Billy who nodded and opened the door. Kevin went in and saw Nick sitting by the window.

        “What is it, Kev,” Nick said.

        “Nick, we all are worried about you,” Kevin said. Brian, Leighanne, Howie, Hayley, AJ, Ally, and Kristin came in behind him and closed the door.

        “I’m fine,” Nick said.

        “Frack, you aren’t fine, you are not the same Nick we all know and love, you won’t hang out with us, I miss my Frack,” Brian said.

        “I’m right here, Brian,” Nick said.

        “No, you aren’t, Nick, you don’t hang with me, you won’t play video games, or play a game of basketball, all you do is hide out in your dressing room or bus or hotel suite, and you are not eating, we have noticed the weight loss,” Brian said.

        “I thought everyone would be happy that I’m losing weight since everyone makes fun of my weight,” Nick said.

        “We don’t, Kaos, we all love you the way you are, you know we always stood up for you when a reporter would make a comment about your weight,” AJ said.

        “I know,” Nick said.

        “We are here for you, Nicky, don’t shut us out, we know you miss Briz, she left all of us,” Hayley said. Kevin went to his little bro. Nick looked up at him.

        “You know you have us, Nicky, you don’t have to say you’re okay when you aren’t, you don’t have to be strong with us, we know you are hurting, you have us, you know you can talk to all of us about anything,” Kevin said. Nick broke down crying and Kevin hugged him. Everyone gathered around them and joined the hug.

        “I’m sorry, guys,” Nick said.

        “It’s okay, Nicky, just know we are here for you,” Leighanne said. Nick nodded.

Three months later, Nick was back to normal and hanging with Brian and AJ most of the time.  They were in Denver for a show.  Hayley and Leighanne went shopping. They were at the mall and walked in a store and there was Brizee behind the counter. They looked at each other and went up to her. Brizee saw them and froze.

        “Brizee!” Hayley said.

        “Hi,” Brizee said.

        “You ran away from Florida and came here, why did you leave Nick,” Leighanne said.

        “You wouldn’t understand,” Brizee said.

        “I saw the article, Brizee, you ran because of Adam, and that he died of AIDs, you didn’t have anything to worry about, the guys had a physical before they left for the tour, all of them, including Nick, are healthy,” Hayley said. Brizee looked at the counter.

        “Hayley,” Brizee said.

        “No, Brizee, you leaving really destroyed Nick, the first two months, he was depressed, hardly eating, not hanging out, he would either be in his dressing room, on his bus of his hotel room, he wouldn’t do anything with the guys offstage,” Hayley said.

        “The guys and Hayley, Ally, Kris, and I talked with him and made him see that he still had all of us, Briz, you have to go back to him, he loves you so much, you are everything to him,” Leighanne said.

        “You don’t have to run anymore, if you have to run, run back to Nick, he needs you in his life,” Hayley said.

        “I don’t know if I can,” Brizee said.

        “Why not,” Hayley said. Brizee stood up and turned sideways and they saw her stomach. Brizee was pregnant.

        “I’m having his baby, it happened the night before I left, we weren’t exactly careful,” Brizee said.

        “He will want you and the baby, Briz,” Hayley said.

        “I don’t know if I can,” Brizee said.

        “Briz, he loves you, he wouldn’t turn his back on you, you are his everything and he will be happy to have you back and the baby will be a bonus,” Hayley said. Brizee looked at them and nodded. She told her boss that she quit and left with them and went to the venue. Hayley and Leighanne walked in with Brizee. Brian, Howie, AJ, Ally, Kevin, and Kristin hugged her.

        “Where’s Nick?” Hayley asked.

        “His dressing room, changing, we had a water gun fight, he lost,” Brian said.

        “Only because the guys ganged up on him and he wasn’t even playing,” Ally said. Brizee shook her head and Brian told her which one it was. She walked down the hall and knocked on the door.

        “It’s open!” Nick said. She slowly opened the door and saw him putting on a shirt. He turned and saw her.

        “Hi,” Brizee said. He looked at her up and down.

        “Briz?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah,” Brizee said. He closed the door and took her in his arms. She closed her eyes and held onto him.

        “We’re having a baby?” Nick asked. Brizee nodded.

        “I’m so sorry for leaving you,” Brizee said.

        “I found the article, baby, you didn’t have to run, we could have be there for each other, I could have handled it,” Nick said.

        “I know that now, I promise never to leave you again,” Brizee said. Nick cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply.

        “Good because there is no way I’m ever letting you go,” Nick said. He held her close to him without hurting her. He pulled back and looked at her.

        “I still want to marry you,” Nick said.

        “And my answer is still yes,” Brizee said. He took off his ring and put it on her finger. They went and told the guys and girls.

Two months later, Brizee was seven months pregnant and married to Nick. They noticed a change in AJ. She went to get him one night for the show and he came onto her and raped her. She ran off the bus and went to Nick’s bus and showered and changed. She suddenly doubled over in pain. She called out for Billy. He came on and saw her.

        “Briz,” Billy said.

        “I need Nick! I need to go to the hospital!” Brizee said. He helped her off the bus and took her to the hospital, talking to Eddie and Carlos before leaving. The guys came offstage and saw Carlos and Eddie.

        “Guys,” Kevin said.

        “Nick, you need to change quickly and get to the hospital,” Eddie said.

        “What, why,” Nick said.

        “It’s Brizee, Billy took her while you guys were performing,” Eddie said. Nick raced down the hall and changed and ran out and went to the hospital. He talked to a nurse and went to Brizee’s room. She was asleep with Billy standing by the door.

        “Billy,” Nick said.

        “It’s not good, boss,” Billy said.

        “What happened,” Nick said.

        “She was in pain, brought her here, the docs had to sedate her,” Billy said.

        “The baby?” Nick asked.

        “Mr. Carter,” a voice behind him said.

        “Yes,” Nick said.

        “I’m Dr. White,” The doctor said.

        “What is going on,” Nick said.

        “Your wife is going to be fine,” Dr. White said.

        “The baby?” Nick asked.

        “I’m afraid the baby is gone, there was nothing I could do,” Dr. White said. Nick leaned against the wall and looked at the doctor.

        “Does she know?” Nick asked.

        “That’s why we had to sedate her, she was devastated,” Dr. White said. Nick closed his eyes as tears fell down his cheeks.

        “While we were examining her, we noticed that she has bruising around her cervix, it appears she’s been raped,” Dr. White said. Nick looked at Billy.

        “Boss,” Billy said.

        “You were with her, what happened,” Nick said.

        “I don’t know, she went to get AJ, she came running off his bus and went to yours,” Billy said.

        “What condition was she in?” Nick asked.

        “She was upset, oh god, he did it,” Billy said.

        “Stay with her,” Nick said.

        “Nick, no, you stay with your wife,” Billy said.

        “No, Billy, I have to call Kev,” Nick said. He went out into the hallway and got out his phone when he looked up and saw Kevin, Brian, Leighanne, Kristin, Ally, Howie, and Hayley coming down the hall with AJ behind them.  Anger came over him and he ran down the hall and grabbed AJ and pushed him against the wall.

        “You bastard!” Nick yelled. Kevin and Brian pulled Nick away from him.

        “Nick, what happened,” Howie said.

        “That bastard raped my wife!” Nick yelled.

        “What!” Kevin said looking at AJ.

        “Nick, how is Briz?” Hayley said.

        “Not good,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Ally said.

        “The baby?” Kristin said.

        “The baby is gone because of him, he couldn’t control himself, he killed my baby!” Nick yelled as he struggled against Kevin and Brian’s hold on him. The news hit AJ like a ton of bricks. He collapsed against the wall.

        “Oh god!” Leighanne said. Hayley looked at AJ.

        “AJ,” Hayley said.

        “Nothing I say will make things right,” AJ said softly.

        “That’s for sure, I’m never going to forgive you for this, you are nothing to me!” Nick said. He went back to Brizee’s room and closed the door.

The guys and girls stood there looking at AJ. He broke down crying. Ally knelt down in front of him.

        “Alex,” Ally said.

        “What have I done, I destroyed everything, I don’t deserve to live,” AJ said.

        “Stop that!” Ally said.

        “Nick and Brizee will never forgive me no matter what I do, even if I go to rehab, my little bro hates me,” AJ said. Ally hugged him.

        “No, I don’t deserve anything,” AJ said getting up and heading out. Ally went after him.

        “I can’t believe this,” Kevin said.

        “We have to be there for Nick and Briz, they need us,” Brian said. He went to the room and quietly walked in and saw Nick sitting by Brizee’s bedside. Brian looked at Billy. Brian walked to Nick’s side and put his hand on his shoulder. Nick looked up at him.

        “What am I going to do, Frick, my baby’s gone,” Nick said. Brian hugged him. Nick cried on Brian’s shoulder.  The next day, Nick sat there watching Brizee sleep. He saw her waking up and took her hand in his. She opened her eyes and looked at him.

        “Nicky,” Brizee said.

        “Hey,” Nick said kissing her hand. She started crying.

        “You know,” Brizee said. Nick nodded. He got on the bed beside her and took her in his arms.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

        “What are we going to do,” Brizee said.

        “I don’t know, honey, but I’m not going anywhere,” Nick said. Brizee held onto him.

Three days later, Nick had gone home to get some clothes for her and he came back to find her gone. He found Dr. White who told him that Brizee left on her own after being discharged. He went home and called everyone. He stood outside, watching the waves. Hayley and Howie arrived with Kristin and Kevin behind them. Brian and Leighanne arrived after them.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “My wife left me, I went to the hospital to pick her up and she was gone, Dr. White said she left on her own, I don’t know where she is,” Nick said. Howie made a call.

        “Billy is going to look for her,” Howie said. Nick went down to the beach.

        “Howie,” Leighanne said.

        “I called AJ, to see if she went to confront him, she didn’t,” Howie said. Leighanne tried Brizee’s cell and got no answer. She shook her head.

        “Why would she leave him, it was his baby, too, he is in as much pain as she is,” Leigahnne said. Nick came back and she hugged him.

        “Leighanne, Kris, let’s go, I have a clue on where she could have gone,” Hayley said. They left. Nick looked at the guys. He sat down.

        “Where are they going,” Nick said.

        “To bring your wife home where she belongs,” Brian said. Nick looked at the ocean.

        “No, call them off, I’m done,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “No, Brian, she promised me, she promised she wouldn’t leave me again, and she broke it,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “I mean it, Brian, I’m finished, I’m tired of being walked over like I’m nothing, I’m feeling the loss of the baby, too, she is not alone in those feelings, it was my baby,” Nick said.

The next day, Nick came back from his walk on the beach. He walked in just as Ally and Hayley brought Brizee in.

        “I told them to call you guys and tell you not to bother,” Nick said.

        “Nick, hear her out, okay,” Ally said. Brizee sat down.

        “I left because I thought you would blame me for the baby, it is my fault, I shouldn’t have gone to get him for you guys, I should have let Marcus get him,” Brizee said.

        “It was not your fault that AJ was drinking, it was not your fault that he raped you, you didn’t know,” Nick said sitting down beside her.

        “I knew he was drinking, I knew he was partying hard, Ally told me and she asked me not to tell you guys,” Brizee said. Nick looked at Ally.

        “We could tell AJ was partying hard, you guys should have told us, we could have done something for him,” Nick said. Ally looked at Nick.

        “AJ had to admit that he had a problem, no one could force him to admit it, he had to make that choice on his own and he did, that night at the hospital, he went straight to rehab,” Ally said.

        “Nick, I’m sorry for leaving like I did,” Brizee said.

        “Just don’t leave me again, please, none of this is your fault, don’t even think it is because it isn’t,” Nick said. Brizee nodded and Nick hugged her. Ally and Hayley left.